What is the V sign?
Simply, it’s a hand gesture in which the index and middle fingers are raised and parted to make a V shape while the other fingers are clenched.
V for Victory!
Source: Imperial War Museum
The most known and more widespread use is a victory sign (“V for Victory”), with the back of the hand toward the gesturer, was introduced in 1941 as part of a campaign by the Allies of World War II.
On 14 January 1941, a former Belgian Minister of Justice suggested that Belgians use V for Victory as a rallying emblem during the Second World War by July 1941, the symbol of the letter V spread throughout Europe.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to the ‘V for Victory’ campaign in a speech, in July 1941, from then on he used the V hand gesture; other Allied leaders soon followed suit.
The origins of the V
However, was Churchill the first to put up his V’s or did it originate somewhere else?
Well, surprisingly, the actual history of the gesture is uncertain, and there is no actual evidence of its existence before the 20th century.
Although, in recent years, an explanation for the origin of the V-sign dating back to the Battle of Agincourt, has appeared. British archers were so effective and intimidating towards their enemy, that when the French captured an archer, they chopped off the two fingers they needed to draw a bow-string. Bowmen who had not been thus disfigured held up two fingers to taunt their cowardly foes.
Needless to say, there is not a shred of evidence to support this origin, in fact historians have indicated that medieval longbows would have required the use of all three fingers!. However, this version of the story has become part of folklore.
Up Yours!
Churchill was initially unaware of the meaning of the gesture, with the palm facing inwards (often with a cigar in between his fingers), but after being advised that the palm in gesture was offensive to some, he made sure he used the appropriate sign
The palm facing towards the gesturer, is often interpreted as ‘F—you!’ or ‘Up Yours!’ and it was certainly a very potent offensive gesture; today it seems to be losing its ability to offend.
The American gesture, formed by holding the middle finger alone, also known as flicking the bird, was equivalent to the offensiveness of the ‘palm in’ V-sign.
Source: Imperial War Museum
V for peace
U.S President Richard Nixon used the gesture (palm facing outwards) to signal victory in the Vietnam War, an act which became one of his best-known trademarks. He also used it after his resignation in 1974. Ironically, protesters against the Vietnam War and other activists adopted the gesture as a sign of peace.
Here at VCREW, we use it to imply that we are resilient and that we always get back up whenever knocked down. It shows we can overcome any obstacle and that there is no limit to what we can achieve no matter what our past has brought upon us. All coming together to achieve something big,as a crew. Giving us a feeling of pride and ambition, that together we can achieve our goals - We have no limits.
So show us your Vs!